Chances Are by Arok
Summary: Chances Are


He wanted no part of this, any of this. Some would say he should consider himself lucky that this is the worst that could have happened, but he wasn't some people and he wasn't the least bit happy about this. He sat back in the hot leather of the limousine and glared out the window. The further they went, the more the city disappeared and the angrier he became. He crossed his arms firmly over his chest and allowed his forehead to rest against the cool glass of the tinted window. He watched as stoplights and traffic gave way to tall grass and a great expanse of land he couldn’t remember ever caring to see. Not that what he wanted mattered for shit.



Chances are, we'll find a new equation
Chances rolled away from me
Chances are all they hope to be
Don't get me wrong I never say never
Cause though love can change the weather
No act of God could pull me away from you
Categories: Fanfiction > Backstreet Boys, Fanfiction > Music > NSYNC Characters: AJ, Brian, Chris, Group, Group, Howie, JC, Joey, Justin, Kevin, Lance, Nick, Other, Other
Genres: Alternate Universe
Warnings: None
Challenges:
Series: None
Chapters: 2 Completed: No Word count: 6501 Read: 1155 Published: 03/22/21 Updated: 03/25/21

1. Chapter 1 by Arok

2. Chapter 2 by Arok

Chapter 1 by Arok

He wanted no part of this, any of this. Some would say he should consider himself lucky that this is the worst that could have happened, but he wasn't some people and he wasn't the least bit happy about this. He sat back in the hot leather of the limousine and glared out the window. The further they went, the more the city disappeared and the angrier he became. He crossed his arms firmly over his chest and allowed his forehead to rest against the cool glass of the tinted window. He watched as stoplights and traffic gave way to tall grass and a great expanse of land he couldn’t remember ever caring to see. Not that what he wanted mattered for shit. That point had been proven to him quite well. He grimaced as he recalled the meeting he’d had with his assistant a week before.

--

He’d rolled out of bed so hung over he couldn't remember how he’d gotten home or even where his shoes were. His cell phone was thumbing over and over again on the nightstand and he resisted the urge to pick the damn thing up and chuck it against the nearest hard wall. The thunder in his head was deafening and all he wanted to do was throw up and then crawl back under the covers. He sat on the edge of the bed, trying to gather strength to stand and make his way to the bathroom. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, teetering between falling back against the mattress and falling forward onto the carpeted floor. He was just getting ready to push himself to his feet when the doorbell started ringing incessantly from two floors below. He closed his eyes, hoping if he wished hard enough that this nightmare would end and he could go back to sleep. No such luck, along with the doorbell chime, there was now the deftly pounding of someone at the door. It was doing wonders for the pounding in his head. He growled as he pushed himself to his feet, stumbling and tripping over his shoes. He shot his hands out and was able to catch himself against the wall before he fell. Whoever was at the door was going to get it, if he made it down the stairs in one piece.

He took a deep breath and slowly made his way to the door, tripping twice more before he’d even reached the doorway. There were few people who had the gate code to even have access to the door this way. That could only mean that the one man band at the door had to be important, relatively so anyway. He made it to the landing of the third floor and gripped on tight to the banister before slowly shuffling down the stairs. As he got further down the first flight, the noise grew steadily louder. He had to stop a couple of times to rub at his temples, determined to kill whoever was at the door and making such an offending racket.

On the second floor landing now and still one more set of stairs to go. He gritted his teeth and promised himself he wouldn’t drink this much again. It was a crock of shit, and he knew he’d be downing the whisky bottle before the sun went down, but it was something he could soothe himself with in this horrendous moment. What could possibly be so important that he needed to be woken up at the ass crack of dawn? He was really going to wring someone's neck.

Finally reaching the main floor, he was so relieved he almost dropped to his knees and kissed the stone floor, but the knocking was so loud he would much rather beat his head against the floor rather than listen to the noise any longer. Reaching out in front of him, he gripped the doorknob and used it to propel himself closer to the door. He growled again as he ripped open the door and glared at the intruder. JC Chasez, his personal assistant stood on the other side of the door, a cocky smile dancing across his face.

“Well good afternoon sleeping beauty. So glad to see you up and about.” JC cooed as he leaned against the doorway.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Kevin growled, not at all happy to have JC’s glittering face on his doorstep.

“Well honey bunches, I am here to let you know that you’ve really cooked the goose this time.” JC said as he pushed past Kevin’s frame in the doorway and made his way into the mansion.

“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes, for one, and for two, what the fuck are you talking about?” Kevin demanded as he slammed the door closed behind them. He grimaced as the sound echoed through the open entryway and vibrated right back to his temples.

JC didn’t respond. JC wasn’t even in the fucking room as Kevin turned around. He groaned and followed the path he thought JC might have taken, cheering inwardly when he found the younger man bent over and digging something out of the refrigerator.

“Thank god. Make me some breakfast too,’ Kevin mumbled as he settled himself into the kitchen chair and dropped his head in his hands. He jumped slightly when he felt something hard hit him in the arm and looked up just in time to see the apple JC had chucked at him fall to the floor. “What the fuck?” he demanded.

“I’m not your personal bitch, no matter what you may think otherwise. I am here to save your ass, not cook for you. You want food, you hire a cook, or better yet, you learn to make it yourself. Guess what buddy, you’ve pissed off the wrong people, for too long and now you’re going to have to pay for it.” JC jumped his small body up onto the kitchen island and grabbed a banana off the counter.

“My head hurts too much to understand your riddles today JC. Just tell me what the hell is going on.” Kevin whined.

“Don’t whine. It’s really unbecoming.” JC said with a laugh. “What’s going on, is you were photographed drunk and belligerent last night. There’s multiple videos and a hundred photos flying around. Not only that, but you started throwing punches at the bouncer who tried to remove you peacefully from the bar. You’re going to have to pay him a pretty nickel, but he’s agreed not to press charges.”

Kevin shook his head and threw up his hands. “Okay. If he’s not pressing charges, what’s the big deal? The stuff with the media will blow over, it always does. Doesn’t seem like a reason to get bent out of shape.”

JC rolled his eyes. “No one gives a shit what you do or don’t think is a problem. You’ve been a mess since Kristin left. I’ve tried to help you, I’ve tried to give you space to grieve your marriage and come to grips with what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem to be working. You’re getting worse, not better. Management is fed up trying to deal with your attitude problem, your inability to keep a deadline or a commitment and you’re a disaster for the PR department. Frankly Kevin, no one wants to work with you anymore. They are this close to cancelling your contract for the next three albums. If they do that, your career is over. Once you’re labeled difficult to work with, no one will give you another chance. Is this what you want? To be completely done with music?”

The pounding was so hard in Kevin’s head now that he swore he could feel his eyeballs move. He tried to pay attention to the words coming out of JC’s mouth. He knew they were important, but he was too damn hungover to really make heads or tails of the severity of the situation. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked quietly.

JC took a deep breath and looked away. “They want you to take the next six months and figure your shit out. If you can’t come up with some new material, a new attitude and a better handle on your life, then you’re done.”

Kevin just looked at him, unsure if he should be happy, sad or scared by the news. “What are they expecting me to do? Go to rehab? I’m not a 12 step kind of guy, I can’t do that.” he felt his voice growing more urgent the more he talked. JC had to understand that one of those types of facilities, while they may be great and even necessary for other people, they were not for him.

JC shook his head. “No Kev. I saved your ass again. My aunt has a small house in Mount Pleasant and she currently doesn’t have a renter for it. You’re going to move there for the next six months and try to figure out who you are. Who Kevin Richardson is without his doting wife. You're going to live in a small beach town and figure your shit out. You’d better come back with a pile of songs and a fresh perspective. I'll come visit occasionally, and if I don’t feel like you’re making progress then you will go into a rehab facility, there’s no other option here. You need to sober up, however we have to do it.

“Where the fuck is Mount Pleasant?” Kevin asked, the fight leaving his exhausted body.

“South Carolina.”

--

The further they drove the more he could see of the coast. He pressed the button to lower the window a crack and breathed in the sweet salt air. It always amazed him, how easily the air changed the closer to the ocean he got. It was the same anywhere the ocean touched the coast. He had been given a week to set his affairs in order and pack his things before he was packing onto a plane and thrown clear across the country to live in a Podunk town along the Atlantic Ocean. The only good thing about this whole damn experience would be six months of fresh, delicious seafood. He had to have something to look forward to. JC was supposed to meet him there, opting not to fly with him and listen to more of his bitching and whining. It had been more than a week without any kind of alcohol and he knew that the worst of the initial cravings was probably over, but he still had the niggle in the back of his mind, the one telling him he wasn’t good enough for anything and that’s why she left. It was that voice he drank to science. Now he would have to find something else to devote his time to because he couldn’t write.

Every time he got out a notebook and actually sat down to try to write anything, he would end up focusing solely on her and that would inevitably lead him back down that same road of needing to drink, and apparently he wasn’t supposed to be doing that to excess anymore. The limousine slowed to a stop and Kevin anxiously peered out the window. The house was small, smaller than the home he’d grown up in, in Kentucky. His mansion in Los Angeles had 12 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. How in the hell was he supposed to stay here for six months? This had to be some kind of joke. He made no move to get out of the limo, just sunk further back into the seat and prayed he could become one with the leather and never have to step foot inside the small shack of a house.

Of course, none of his prayers were really going answered these days. He’d apparently done something pretty awful to piss off the big man upstairs because he was just continually getting shit on. The limo door opened and JC’s smirking face appeared in the door opening. “Hi honey, happy to have you home.”

“Fuck you.” Kevin growled and threw his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. “I’m not living inside of that little shit hole.”

JC laughed, loudly. “You haven’t even seen the inside. Stop your whining and get out of the car. Your attitude is exactly why you have to stay here. “

Kevin huffed, but scooted his butt to the edge of the seat and then stood, climbing out of the car.

“Welcome to Mount Pleasant.” JC said, beaming up at him.

--

“Agnes is in room 6. She’s puked three times this morning according to Mrs. Wilson and Lance says she’s puked on him once as well.” Howie said, tossing Nick a clipboard before grabbing the next one off of the busy desk.

Nick took it and flipped several pages before looking back up. “Did she eat anything out of the ordinary?”

Howie shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve not actually talked to Mrs. Wilson, Lance brought Agnes back to the exam room so you might ask him.”

“Buttercup Lawrence?” Howie questioned as he flipped through admitting paperwork. A flustered man with a teacup chihuahua met him at the counter. “Right this way Mr. Lawrence.”

Nick glanced at the dog and groaned inwardly before heading down the hallway to exam room 6. He hated treating little dogs. He knew it was a pretty shitty opinion for a vet. He should love all animals, blah, blah, blah. He didn’t understand the fascination with small dogs and they always seemed to bite and nip so much more than regular dogs. He sighed and pushed his way into the exam room, nodding to Lance as he entered. He talked basic information over with his vet tech before Lance left the room, leaving Nick to do the exam.

“Lance says you think she may have ingested toilet paper?” Nick said as rubbed the head of the aging Maine Coon.

Mrs. Wilson nodded. “I was babysitting my grandson and he got into the stock pile in the linen closet and was ripping it to shreds. When I discovered what was going on, a lot of it was wet and I had to pull pieces from her fur. I can only assume she ate some of it.”

Nick gave her a soft smile. “While we don’t want her to do it often, ingesting the toilet paper will not cause her any long term injury. She will have an upset stomach for a few days and she may throw up a few more times. Try to make sure she’s drinking plenty of water and you may want to just give her soft food until you know her tummy is feeling better. “

He finished up the vitals on Agnes and was printing out her discharge paperwork when Mrs. Wilson threw herself into his arms. “Thank you so much dear. I was so worried about her when she started getting sick. She means the world to me.”

Nick smiled and hugged her back. “I know she does. We’re going to do everything we can to keep her in the best health possible.”

She smiled up at him and cupped his cheek with one of her soft worn hands. “You’re such a sweet boy Nickolas. When are you going to settle down, hmmm?”

Nick laughed and squeezed her hand before stepping backwards to get her peppers off the printer. “I...I’m not sure. Haven’t meant the right person yet I guess. Not that it’s easy to meet someone around here.” he gave her a shy smile.

“You never know.” She said with a teasing tone. ”That famous musician is supposed to be moving in this week.”

Nick tilted his head as he signed and folded the papers. “What famous musician?”

“I can’t ever remember the name right. Kevin Richards or something like that. They were talking about it down at Rosie’s this morning. Truth be told, they’ve been talking about it for the past week, ever since the arrangements were made. He’s staying in Lucinda Chasez’s rental house, the one right down on the water. Apparently Lucinda called Maggie the moment she got off the phone with her nephew. According to Maggie Jane, he’s the assistant, the one that does all the work.” she waved him off as she scooped up her precious cat. “I’m just saying, you never know what will happen, and you’re such a handsome boy.”

“Well I appreciate you always looking out for me Mrs. Wilson. I promise you will be the first to know when I’m ready to settle down.” he gave her a wink and a pat on the shoulder before excusing himself from the room.

He made a beeline to the staff lounge, grabbing a bottle of water and settling down into one of the chairs at the table to catch his breath. He was grateful that the people of this town still cared about his well being. But sometimes working in the same town he’d grown up in could be suffocating, especially when they wanted to give him the third degree about his love life. So what if he wasn’t settled down? There was more to life than a wife, kids and a white picket fence. Like the animals he treated on a daily basis, the animal shelter he volunteered at once a week and the puppy adoption events he organized and threw twice a month to help keep animals off the streets. With so much time dedicated to animals and their care, it left very little time for his own.

“Get her squared away?” Lance asked as he breezed into the room.

Nick nodded. “Yep, she’s out of here and my next one is a biter.”

Lance laughed. “Are you hiding from a little dog Dr. Carter?” his electric green eyes danced with laughter as he gazed at his boss and friend.

“I don’t know if I need to hide from the dog or Mrs. Wilson. She’s back on my case about being single.” Nick said with a groan as he gulped down two big mouthfuls of water before standing.

“How come you never talk about your love life with me?” Lance pouted.

Nick shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about it with anyone!” he laughed at the pout that continued on the other man’s face. “Stop pouting. There's nothing to even talk about anyway. I have no love life. I’m married to my work.”

“Well that’s the fucking truth.” Lance muttered under his breath.

Nick turned in the doorway and looked back at him. “What did you say to me?”

Lance laughed and shot him the finger. “Go deal with the ankle biter.”

Nick shook his head and walked back out into the hallway, Lance’s laughter echoing in the small hallway.

Chapter 2 by Arok
"Argh," Nick yelled as he hoisted the barbell back onto the stand and allowed his tired arms to sag at his sides. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm his breathing.

Finally feeling able to move, he shifted his weight on the bench until he could reach the towel with his fingertips. Towel in hand, he wiped his sweaty face and sat up slowly, allowing the blood to flow to all areas of his body once again. He sat hunched over, towel pressed against his face as he recovered.

"Pushing yourself a little too hard aren't you?" Justin asked as he leaned against the machine in front of him.

Nick grimaced and removed the towel. "I have to, to be able to keep up with you."

Justin threw his head back and laughed before coming closer and sitting on the edge of the bench that had previously been occupied by Nick's head. "You're never going to be able to keep up with me baby, so you might as well give up now."

It was Nick's turn to laugh. "When have I ever given up on anything? Especially when it comes to showing you up."

Justin smiled and then reached out to place a hand on Nick’s arm. Nick turned at the touch. “Seriously though, are you doing okay?”

Nick nodded, his eyes tired. “I’m okay. I had to put down Mr. Jefferies chocolate lab this morning. He was thirteen and was in so much pain. I hate doing it, every time it breaks my heart, even though I know it's the best thing. It’s hard being the one who has to actually do the procedure while trying to console the client. I’ve been taking care of Buster since he was a puppy. Sometimes there’s those families and pets you connect with more than others and it hurts just as much.”

Justin pulled the older man into his arms and hugged him tight. “Justin, I’m all sweaty.” Nick tried to protest, but Justin just held him tighter.

“I don’t care. You needed a hug and I wanted to give it. I’ve been wrapped around your sweaty frame before. It's not the first time and I’m sure it won’t be the last.” he teased. He continued to hold Nick, much longer than was normally necessary for an ex-boyfriend, but nothing about their relationship had ever been normal.

Nick and Justin had grown up together, and as they grew older and entered high school, they found themselves wanting to spend all their time with each other. They were both on the football and basketball teams and did every social activity together they could. When Nick was 17, he finally admitted to Justin that what he had been feeling for the past several years went way about the call of friendship. Justin had immediately agreed and before either one of them knew it, they were falling hard and fast. They dated for two years, until the threat of college and joining the real world was too much for both of them to try to maintain a healthy relationship. They had split on good terms, right before Nick left South Carolina to attend college in New York. Justin had stayed behind in Mount Pleasant, choosing to do odd jobs and attend the community college a couple of towns over.

When the owner of the local gym, Project Me, was going to close up and move further south, Justin had gone to the bank and begged for a loan. He’d purchased the property and continued the gym in the same manner it had always run, but expanded to offering personalized training sessions, boxing competitions and even allowed the high school sports teams to use the facility to practice. He loved working in the community they’d grown up in and giving back was very important to him.

Even though their romance didn't work out, they still cared deeply for each other and were each other's biggest fans. Justin made it his mission to make sure Nick was getting enough rest and taking care of himself.

They broke the embrace, but Nick didn't make any motion to leave the comfort of the younger man. Justin smoothed the sweaty blonde hair off of Nick's forehead. "How's the adoption event coming?"

Nick groaned. "It's a nightmare. There are probably close to 30 puppies now that need to be adopted. It keeps growing. I've called around to find more volunteers but so far it's not looking good. Joey offered to provide some light catering so hopefully food will help bring adopters out. “

“You know I’ll come out and help if you need it. I can call around too and see if I can get you come help. Is it earlier in the day? Maybe AJ will let us borrow Brian for the afternoon before they open.” Justin said as he hit Nick’s shoulder, trying to cheer up his friend.

“Thanks Jus. I really appreciate it.” Nick said with a sigh.

“You work too hard.” Justin said softly as he leaned down and kissed Nick’s forehead.

Nick sat up and gave him a smile. “I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about me.” He tossed the towel over his shoulder and headed towards the treadmill. He glanced at the clock on the wall and decided he could run for twenty minutes before he had to be back at the office.

“I always worry about you.” Justin said softly as he shook his head and went back to the front of the gym to greet the waiting customer.

--

“Are you going to sit here and sulk or are you going to embrace your new home and actually leave the house?” JC asked as he threw open the curtains in the small living room.

All he got in response was a hrump from the mound of man and blankets on the couch. Once the room was full of natural light, he turned back to the buried man with his hands on his hips. “Well? What’s it going to be? I leave tomorrow. Do you want me to show you around before I go or do you plan on wasting away alone on the couch.”

JC watched as the lump man sat up, sending the layers of blankets cascading to the floor. Kevin glared at him from the couch. “Why do you insist on doing everything in your power to annoy me?”



JC smiled wickedly. “Because I enjoy it very much.”

Kevin crossed his arms and gave him a dirty look. “Bet you won’t like it if I fire your ass.”

JC laughed, throwing his head back, his curls bouncing as he did. “Do you not understand that I get a new job offer every day? I could walk away at any time and be just fine. Hell, I would probably even make more money. But I stay, because there are times I think I am the only one who cares about your ungrateful ass and I don’t want to find out from TMZ that you’ve drove drunk and wrapped your car around a telephone pole. But keep up your bitch ass attitude and you’re going to find both of us out of a job.”

Kevin continued to glare at him, but his face had softened some. “Fine,” he growled. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

JC beamed at him. “Great, you can start with a shower. I don’t think you’ve moved from that couch since we arrived and frankly, you stink. Go get yourself cleaned up and I’ll make you some coffee. Then I’ll show you around town. We can get you some groceries so at least I know I left you with everything you need. If you’re a nice boy I’ll even take you out to dinner before bringing you home safe and sound.”

Kevin shot him the finger, but stood anyway and shuffled out of the room, leaving the pile of blankets all over the floor for JC to clean up. JC shook his head as he bent down to grab the first one. He folded them all and left them on the arm of the couch. At least he was out of here tomorrow. He momentarily felt guilty for dropping the egomaniac on the simple small town, but JC was counting on the charm of the town to make a difference in his boss.

--

“That’s the library,” JC said pointing, his finger dangerously close to Kevin’s mouth. Kevin resisted the urge to lean up and bite the digit. He didn’t want to deal with JC crying though, so he swallowed his urge and pushed himself back further into the seat. “They have books there you can borrow. Maybe you can check out a cookbook and finally learn how to cook for yourself.” JC quipped.

“I know what a fucking library is JC. I’m not a moron.” Kevin grouched.

JC smiled, but didn’t respond. At least he’d managed to drag the older man out of the house. JC wondered how much he would go back to living like a recluse the moment JC left for the airport. His next visit wasn’t scheduled for three weeks and he hoped desperately that Kevin would figure out how to take care of himself in the meantime and possibly even make a friend, but that would be pushing it.

Kevin crossed his arms over his chest and crouched lower in the seat. JC noticed out of the corner of his eye and laughed. “You’d better come to terms with the town knowing who you are real quick. I can bet you that more than half of them already know you’re here.”

Kevin looked at JC in horror. “You told them?”



JC laughed. “No, but I can almost guarantee my aunt did. She would have reached out to the first person she found and it would have spread like wildfire from there. That’s how small towns work. There’s no use hiding here. They know who you are, but they don’t know why you’re shacked up here, unless you actually make a friend and you tell them yourself. “

“I doubt that will happen.” Kevin said solemnly as he continued to gaze out the window of the car.

JC rolled his eyes. Kevin making a friend was about as likely as the ocean dying up in the short stay he would have in the small coastal town.

“Stop!” Kevin yelled, pointing out the window.

JC turned quickly to see what the fuss was about and saw the gym Kevin was pointing at. “Can we go there and sign up? Maybe working out again will help me channel some of my anger.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” JC said nodding as he turned to enter the gym parking lot. “Hey look, they have a boxing class. If nothing else, you can punch out your aggression on things that aren’t bouncers at bars.”

Kevin turned and glared at the younger man. “You know, maybe I would be nicer if you weren’t on my ass all the time.”

JC laughed. “Not likely.” He parked the car and got out, stretching his long frame as he did so. He hadn’t been to Mount Pleasant for more than ten years and a lot had changed in that time. He’d only spent half a summer here as a boy, many years ago and they had spent several weekends over the course of his life visiting.

Kevin continued to sit in the car. JC rolled his eyes. He was not opening his fucking door. Instead of giving his boss another look, he headed for the door of the gym, convinced once Kevin realized he was done being waited on hand and foot he would get over himself and get out of the car.

The smell of sweat and testosterone hit JC square in the face the moment he stepped through the door. The little bell above him jingled, alerting his presence, but still no one came to the main desk. He took the few moments of solitude to glance around the building. There appeared to be adequate workout equipment and a few weight benches. He knew Kevin preferred to lift and figured at least it would be one thing that would keep him happy.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by a pretty blonde man with curly hair bounding towards him. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Justin, I own this place. Are you interested in a membership?"

JC had to laugh at the absurdity of himself owning a gym membership. The man's brow furrowed and he tilted his head to the side in confusion. "I'm sorry, yes I am here for a membership, but not for myself, for my boss. He's a bit prickly and he's currently pouting in the car so I'd like to start getting things set up for him."

Justin eyed him curiously and nodded, ducking beneath the counter to get a membership form and a clipboard. "If you can start filling these out, I'll grab him a welcome kit and a brochure. What's his shirt size?"

JC took the clipboard and began filling out the forms. "Large." he said without even looking up.

Justin nodded and headed into the backroom where they kept the t-shirts and other various marketing materials. He grabbed the necessary items and headed back to the counter, stopping in his tracks when his eyes landed on the gorgeous musician standing in the middle of his gym. He swallowed hard and made his way carefully back, hoping like hell he didn't trip or do anything else to embarrass himself.

"All finished?" He asked casually as he took the proffered clipboard and put the items he was carrying on the desk. He quickly glanced down and tried not to respond visually as his eyes danced across the name, Kevin Richardson, on the forms. So it was true that the celebrity would be living in their little town, and now apparently working out in his gym. His eyes scrolled further down the page and he felt his heart stop, he'd checked the box for personal training. Justin would be providing him one on one assistance for his fitness goals.

"I see you are interested in personal training?" he questioned, hoping his voice didn't sound too excited.

"Yes," JC answered for the other man. "He needs someone who can help teach him control and a healthy way to deal with his anger."

"Fuck you." Kevin mumbled, crossing his arms.

Justin bit his lip to keep from laughing. "I handle all personal training. Hi, I'm Justin, I'm the owner here." he said with a friendly tone as he offered his hand for a shake.

Kevin glared at it, but after JC elbowed him in the ribs, he leaned forward and shook it. "Nice to meet you." He grumbled.

JC rolled his eyes. "Yes, he's always like this and honestly with you he will probably be much worse. He hates being told what to do, but he needs it. If you feel he deserves an asshole charge, don't hesitate to apply it to his account. I pay all his bills and I can completely understand that he needs to pay for being a constant dick."

Justin laughed then, immediately feeling comfortable with JC, but still unsure of how he felt about the musician. He knew that a lot of celebrities were oftentimes not very nice, but he was still surprised by the surly attitude of the other man.

Kevin continued to glare around the room. While it had been his idea to stop and come in, he didn't like the way JC spoke for him and it made him feel like a child incapable of doing anything for himself. He took in the equipment. At least there was a weight bench that he could get some good use out of. His eyes drifted to the other equipment, a row machine and several treadmills. His eyes widened and he felt his breath catch as he took in the beautiful blonde man who had just stepped off the treadmill and was in the process of wiping the sweat from his face. He was quite possibly the sexiest man he'd ever laid eyes on. He blinked a couple of times, trying to make himself turn away. The last thing he wanted was to be caught staring.

"When do you want to start your first session so I can get a good judge of your form and where you are fitness wise?" Justin asked.

Kevin brought his attention back to the desk. "Josh leaves tomorrow, so does sometime tomorrow afternoon work?"

Justin nodded. "Sure. After your first session we can set up a schedule that works for both of us."

Kevin watched as he went back to typing something in on the computer. Justin's head shot up and he smiled.

"You're not even going to shower?"

"No time. I've got to get back to the office. Apparently Bugsy swallowed a toy soldier and I'm going to have to remove it. Thanks for everything Jus. I'll give you a call later tonight or tomorrow." the voice came from behind him.

Kevin turned and casually glanced over his shoulder. It was the gorgeous blonde. He tried not to stare, but he was even better looking up close.

"Okay. Don't worry about anything though. I'll take care of things." they smiled at each other and then the blonde was gone.

Justin went back to finishing the registration while JC continued to stare at Kevin. He'd seen the way the older man had reacted to the blonde and had to fight back a smirk. He wasn't sure what was more entertaining, the way that Kevin had reacted to the blonde, or the way the blonde had reacted to him. Or his apparent lack of reaction. It wasn't often that Kevin went somewhere and wasn't accosted by fans. Either the man wasn't a fan, or had no idea who he was. This was going to be a fun six months. The only downside was that he wasn't able to spend more time here. From just the two guys he'd encountered so far, South Carolina was hiding some majorly hot men. Like the curly headed blonde standing right in front of him.

"Who's that?" JC asked nosily, knowing Kevin would want to know but was too much of an asshole to open his mouth.

Justin glanced up. "Who? Nick? He's the local veterinarian. He's also my best friend." he said with a grin.

A vet. Beauty and brains, JC mused to himself.

"Alright Mr. Richardson," Justin said, handing over the welcome bag and a key card. "The gym is open 24/7. After 6pm the doors are locked and you can only get in with your card. If you lose it, give me a call and I'll have another one made for you. Please don't break down the door to get inside."

JC snorted with laughter as he leaned against the counter. "Has that happened before?"

Justin nodded sadly. "A couple of times. It's expensive to replace so I just prefer you call me in the middle of the night for a new card. I only live a block away, you won't be waiting long. We will meet tomorrow at 2pm for your fitness test and then we'll go from there. Welcome to Mount Pleasant."
This story archived at http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=11591